Home > Salads > Creamy Cucumber Salad Creamy Cucumber Salad May 30, 2023 | 4 Comments SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Jump to Recipe This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. This Creamy Cucumber Salad boasts a beautifully balanced flavor profile – tangy, creamy, and refreshingly crunchy. We’ve got cool, crisp cucumbers mixed with zippy red onions, all tossed in a creamy dressing. The dressing is where the magic really happens – zesty lemon and vinegar join with rich mayo and sour cream, while fresh dill adds a delightful finishing touch. Not sure about the creamy dressing? Try our vinaigrette-dressed Cucumber Salad or this chickpea Cucumber Feta Salad. Creamy Cucumber Salad Dressing Ingredients Sour cream: Look for a good quality sour cream, since it forms the base of your dressing and will be a prominent flavor. The choice between light or regular depends on your preference; regular is slightly creamier. We typically use light. Mayonnaise: A good, full-fat mayo is recommended for its rich flavor. Best Foods/Hellman’s® is our favorite to use here, but feel free to use your favorite brand. White wine vinegar: This vinegar adds a tangy note to the dressing but isn’t as puckery as other varieties of vinegar. If you don’t have it on hand, red wine vinegar or more lemon juice can be used as substitutes. Lemon juice and zest: Fresh is best. The juice adds a vibrant tang, while the zest provides a hint of bright citrus flavor. Be careful to only grate the yellow part of the skin; the white pith can be bitter. See the “quick tip” box below. Fresh dill: It’s definitely worth sourcing fresh dill for this recipe. It has a sweet flavor with a hint of anise that adds a refreshing touch to the salad. Dried dill can be used in a pinch, but it lacks the vibrancy of the fresh version. White sugar: Just a hint balances the acidity in the dressing. You could experiment with honey or agave syrup if you prefer a natural sweetener. Garlic powder: Garlic adds a savory depth to the dressing. You could also use fresh minced garlic, but keep in mind that its flavor is more potent. Fine sea salt and pepper: These are essential for seasoning. Always add to taste. Using fine sea salt will ensure it dissolves more easily in the dressing. QUICK TIP For the Creamy Cucumber Salad dressing, we love zesting the lemons with a microplane and then juicing them with this citrus juicer. Choosing the Best Cucumbers for Your Salad When it comes to making Creamy Cucumber Salad, your best bet is to choose mini cucumbers or English/Persian cucumbers. Here’s why: Fewer seeds: One of the key attributes that make mini, English, and Persian cucumbers ideal for our salad is their low seed content. Unlike regular cucumbers that tend to be filled with seeds, these variants come with fewer and smaller seeds, similar to those in “seedless” watermelons. This results in a less watery salad, thus letting the flavors of the other ingredients stand out more prominently. Thinner skin: These cucumbers have thinner, more delicate skin that’s also quite flavorful. There’s no need for peeling– the skin contributes a subtle yet satisfying crunch to the salad, adding to its overall texture. Consistent texture: These cucumber varieties ensure a consistent texture throughout, delivering a delightful crunch in every bite. The crispiness is so characteristic of a refreshing cucumber salad. Mild flavor: If you’re familiar with the typical taste of cucumbers, you’d be pleased to know that both mini and English/Persian cucumbers offer a milder, less bitter flavor. This ensures they complement rather than overshadow the other ingredients in the salad. QUICK TIP While shopping for mini, English, or Persian cucumbers, keep an eye out for vibrant green color, firm texture, smooth skin, and a mild, fresh scent. Selecting straight, uniformly sized cucumbers will help you get evenly sliced pieces for a balanced salad texture. Red Onion The onion provides a sharp contrast to the creamy dressing and sweet cucumbers in this dish. Slice it very thinly so it won’t overpower the salad. If you find its flavor too strong, you can soak the slices in cold water for about 10 minutes before adding them to the salad. The soaking mellows their bite. Alternatively, use thinly sliced shallots which are milder. How To Make Creamy Cucumber Salad (Tips) Use fresh ingredients: The simplicity of this salad means that every ingredient shines, so make sure they are all as fresh as possible. This is particularly true for the cucumbers and the dill. Slice thinly: Slice the cucumbers and onions as thinly as you can for the best texture and flavor distribution. A mandoline slicer can make this task easier and more consistent. Rest the dressing: Allow the dressing to sit in the fridge for a while before serving. This gives the flavors time to meld together and intensify. Chill before serving: This salad tastes best when it’s cold, so refrigerate it for at least 15-20 minutes before serving. Adjust to taste: Don’t forget to taste and adjust the seasoning of your salad. This includes the dressing before it’s mixed with the cucumbers and the finished salad before serving. VARIATIONS Creamy Cucumber Salad Flavor Variations Greek twist: For a Mediterranean spin, add some crumbled feta cheese, a handful of pitted and sliced Kalamata olives, and replace some of the dill with fresh oregano. You could even add some halved cherry tomatoes for an extra burst of freshness. Spicy kick: Add a finely minced jalapeño pepper to the dressing for a spicier version. Asian-inspired: Replace the white wine vinegar with rice vinegar, the dill with fresh cilantro or mint, and add a splash of sesame oil and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds. You could also add some thinly sliced radishes for an extra crunch. Add avocado: Add a diced ripe avocado to the salad for an even creamier, richer salad. Herbaceous: Mix in other fresh herbs along with or instead of dill. Parsley, cilantro, chives, tarragon, or basil would all bring unique flavors to the salad. STORAGE Storing Creamy Cucumber Salad Serve the same day: You can store Creamy Cucumber Salad in the fridge for a day or two, but it’s best eaten soon after it’s made. Over time, the cucumbers can start to lose their crunch. Leftovers/freezing: If you have leftovers, refrigerate them in an airtight container, but consume them within a day or two. Freezing isn’t recommended as it turns cucumbers mushy upon thawing. So, enjoy this salad at its best – fresh and delicious. More Easy Salads: Asian Cucumber Salad with avocado Wedge Salad with blue cheese dressing Chicken Salad with the best creamy dressing! Broccoli Salad with Cheddar cheese Pesto Pasta Salad with a creamy pesto dressing FOLLOW ALONG! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates, recipes and content. Creamy Cucumber Salad 5 from 3 votes - Review this recipe This Creamy Cucumber Salad boasts a beautifully balanced flavor profile - tangy, creamy, and refreshingly crunchy. We've got cool, crispy cucumbers mixed with zippy red onions, all tossed in a creamy dressing. The dressing is where the magic really happens - zesty lemon and vinegar join with rich mayo and sour cream, while fresh dill adds a delightful finishing touch. SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Creamy Cucumber Salad 5 from 3 votes - Review this recipe SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe This Creamy Cucumber Salad boasts a beautifully balanced flavor profile - tangy, creamy, and refreshingly crunchy. We've got cool, crispy cucumbers mixed with zippy red onions, all tossed in a creamy dressing. The dressing is where the magic really happens - zesty lemon and vinegar join with rich mayo and sour cream, while fresh dill adds a delightful finishing touch. Course Salad, Side Dish Cuisine American, Healthy, Vegetarian Keyword creamy cucumber salad Prep Time 20 minutes minutes Total Time 20 minutes minutes Servings 6 servings, as a side Chelsea Lords Calories 120kcal Author Chelsea Lords IngredientsDressing▢ ½ cup light (or regular) sour cream▢ 4 tablespoons mayonnaise full-fat (We like Best Foods/Hellmans)▢ 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar▢ 1 tablespoon lemon juice, plus 1/4 tsp lemon zest▢ 3-4 tablespoons fresh dill finely chopped▢ 1 teaspoon white granulated sugar▢ 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder▢ Fine sea salt and pepperSalad▢ 4 cups English/Persian cucumbers (~2 English cucumbers) (Note 1)▢ ½ red onion, very thinly sliced (~3/4 cup) (Note 2) InstructionsDRESSING: In a medium-sized bowl, combine all of the dressing ingredients. Season to taste, I add 1/2 tsp each of salt and pepper. Whisk well until completely smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use so the flavors can meld. SALAD: Wash and thoroughly dry cucumbers. Cut off thin bitter ends and slice very thinly. (A mandolin slicer is great here!) Add to a large bowl with thinly sliced red onion. ENJOY: Remove the dressing from the fridge and use a silicone spatula to scrape every bit over the cucumbers and onion. Gently mix with the spatula until veggies are well coated. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes for flavors to intensify; then toss again, season some more if needed, and enjoy. Video Recipe NotesNote 1: Cucumbers: Our top choice for this salad is to use mini cucumbers or English/Persian cucumbers. These cucumbers are ideal due to their fewer seeds, thinner skin, consistent texture, and superior flavor. Note 2: Red onion: If you're sensitive to the sharpness of red onion, thinly slice it and soak the slices in a bowl of cold water. Thoroughly drain before using. Nutrition FactsCalories: 120kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 67mg | Potassium: 148mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 214IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 0.3mg We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed. DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? I love hearing from you when you've made one of my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @ChelseasMessyApron or leave me a comment below.
Love this salad. Perfect for a hot summer night along burgers, steak or hot dogs. And this reminds me of our mom who made a very similar cucumber salad. Reply
